The Wide, Wide World

spers that the

arthly

here, sometimes,

gels'

Lat

and she threw herself again on her pillow, yielding helplessly to the grief she had twice been obliged to control the evening before. Yet love was stronger than grief still, and she was careful to allow no sound to escape her that could reach the ears of her mother, who slept in the next room. Her res

he got out of bed, though the tears fell faster as she said so. Dressing was sad work to Ellen to-day; it went on very heavily. Tears dropped into the water as she stooped her head to the basin; and she hid her face in the towe

rning away her eyes she lifted them to the bright sky above her head, and gazed into its clear depth of blue till she almost forgot that there was such a thing as a city in the world. Little white clouds were chasing across it, driven by the fresh wind that was blowing away Ellen's hair from her face, and cooling her hot cheeks. That wind could not have been long in coming from the place of woods and flowers, it was so sweet still. Ellen looked till, she didn't know why, she felt calmed and soothed,-as if somebody was saying to her softly, "Cheer up, my child, cheer up;-things are not as bad as they might be:-things will be better." Her attention was attracted at length by voices below; she looked down, and saw there, in one of the yards, a poor deformed child, whom she had often noticed before, and always with sorrowful interes

t smile, and held out her hand. Ellen tried to smile in answer, but she was glad to hide her face in her mother's bosom; and the long clo

ool to-day, mamma

hat. You shall not go any more. We

g that would be, but could

hter, and take

ou done

waited

other embrace; "how good you are

although Mrs. Montgomery with her own hand laid on Ellen's plate half of the little b

so late this mo

place, mamma; and then I was

aid Mrs. Montgomery, surprised that it should have been so.-"Oh no, mamma, I

see there that ple

ure blue spread over my head, and the little white clouds fly

Ellen, without thinki

st, and now speaking with difficulty; "I did

you think of H

ke care of me," said Ellen, bursting into te

He will, if you will only pu

back her composure, and af

hat you mean exactly by my

u trust m

inly,

u trust me

mistaken. Then everything you tell or advise me to do, I know it is right, perfectly. And I always feel safe when you are near me, because I know you'll take care of me. And I

stronger, kinder, by far than I am, even if I could always be with you; and what will you do whe

s, and clasping her arms round her mother a

sing herself of one of her hands, sat with her little head resting upon her mother, as quiet as she. They remained thus for two or three hours, without speaking; and Mrs. Montgomery was part of the time slumbering; but now and then a tear ran down the side of the sofa and dropped on the carpet where Ellen sat; and now and then her lips were softly pressed to the hand she held, as if they would grow there. The doctor's entra

one of her hands in his, "what do y

scheme

sick lady over the water to get

well, do you think, sir?

than to send people all the way across the ocean for nothing? Who do you thin

ong there before she is

cited. I've a notion she has been secretly taking half a bottle of wine, or reading some furious kind of a novel, or something of that sort-you understand? Now mind, Mrs. Nurse," said the doctor, changing his tone, "she must not be excited-you must take care that she is not-it isn't good for her. You mustn't let her talk much, or laugh much, or cry at all, on any account; she mustn't be worried in the least-will

was a humane man). "I wonder if she'll live till she gets to the o

reparing for what she believed was before her; endeavouring to resign herself and her child to Him in whose hands they were, and struggling to withdraw her affections from a world which she had a secret misgiving she was fast leaving. As for Ellen, the doctor's warning had served to strengthen the resolve she had already made, that she would not distress her mother with the sight of her sorrow; and she kept it, as far

back to her little heart; and no sooner in again, hope began to smooth the roughest, and soften the hardest, and touch the dark spots with light, in Ellen's future. The thoughts which had passed through her head that first morning as she had stood at her window, now came back again. Thoughts of wonderful improvement to be made during her mother's absence; of unheard-of efforts to learn and amend, which should all be crowned with success; and, above all, thoughts of that "coming home,"

ing about, Ellen?"

d a light smile pass over her face. Ellen looked up, still smiling, and answered, "Oh,

ese things?" inq

you beforehand. I want to surpris

me, but Ellen did not see it. Mrs. Montgomery was

ind of a perso

w. I have nev

hat happen

been very much confined to two or three cities, and your father

her father should not sometimes, when he was in the country,

y aunt's n

heard that already, E

ought she was

she

her name not t

the daughter of his mother, n

y for that," sa

my dau

will not be so li

If you are a good child, and make it your daily care to do your duty, she cannot help liking you, be she what she may; and on the oth

hing dear aunt Bessy was ali

ugh Mrs. Montgomery's mind. But she kept

ur mother; but then it will be your own fault if she does not love you, in time, truly and tenderly. See that you render her all the respect and obedience you could render me. That is your bounden duty. She will stand in my place

t very feeling of love that I am grateful for. I don't

her love you, El

'll try,

that. Have patience, and let your motto be-if there's any occasion-Overcome evil with good. Will

ry, dea

y yourself in your trying to the only unfailing source of w

silence fo

e is it where my aun

beautiful and very healthy, and full of charming walks and rides. You

ot in a town?

Your father says she is a capital housekeeper, and that you will learn more, and be in all respe

estioned the truth of thi

y school nea

as an excellent one in Th

d deal. I mean to tell you everything-absolutely everything, mamma. You know there will be nobody for me to talk to as I do to you" (Ellen's

It will make quite as much the pleas

es, "it will be so long before my letters can get to you! The thing

t to me. Never think of that; write every day, and all manner of thing

write to me,

ll be so indeed; but then, my daughter, let it make you seek that friend who is never far away, nor out of hearing. Draw nigh to God, and He

know He is not my friend in the same way that He is yours."

u. Oh, my child, my child! if losing your mother might be the means of findin

she was seeking a better relief where it had long been her habit to seek and find it. Both resumed their usual composure, and the employments which had been

umbered, and fast drawing to an end, and she felt each one to be very precious. She now lay on her couch, with her face partially shaded, and her eyes fixed upon her little daughter, who was now preparing the tea. She watched her, with thoughts and feelings not to be spoken, as the little figure went back and forward between the table and the fire, and the light shining full upon her busy face, sh

e appetite to

bear patiently this evil that has come upon us. I am glad for your sake, and I am glad for

much to do, mam

out, any question you want to ask, anything you would like particularly to have, or to have done for you, I want

there is one thing I have thought of that I

es

in it, and an inkstand, and some paper and wafers? Because, mamma, you know I shall be among strangers at first, and I shan't f

gomery with a smile and a sigh. "I will certainly take car

I to go,

do you

with me? You know I c

ossible for me. There is no help for it, daughter, but we must entrust you to the care of some friend going that way; but He that holds the wind

up the less. Parting from her mother, and for so long a time, it seemed to her comparatively a matter of little importance with whom

it will be that I s

y, for I cannot go till I have seen you off; and it is thought very

ords were spoken and heard, but

ubmissive and patient under this affliction. I should scarcely have been able

words had raised. Mrs. Montgomery saw she had gone too far, and willing to give both Ellen and herself time to recover, she laid her head on the pillow again and closed her eyes. Many thoughts coming thick upon one another presently fil

did you ever fancy what kind of

n with sparkling eyes, "do

ntgomer

en gently, "I thought

have been able to use mine, but I will not leave you now without o

e of consideration she added, "Mamma, I never thought much about what sort of a one I

ther is fine enough and I am well enough, I w

. Green won't l

e other things that I will not leave you without, and no

?" asked Ellen, very much

oresee that you and I should be kept awake quite too late if we were to enter upon i

righter visions dancing before her eye